Cap for snap fasteners



53 J HUELSTER CAP FOR SNAP FASTENERS Filed June 15, 1944' w egww INVENTOR TTORNE Patented June 25, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAP FOR SNAP FASTENERS Otto J. Huelster, Waterbury, Conn., assignor to Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury, Conn.,- acorporation of Connecticut Application June 13, 1944,v Serial-No. 540,095

18 Claims.

This invention relates to snap fasteners of the type and kind employing" sockets having yieldable portions for engagement with studlike elements in coupling'and uncoupling an element with the socket. More particularly, the invention relates to theconstruc'tion of the cap members of sockets of the kind under consideration, said cap members having means securing the socket part to a support and in positively retainingthe socket member against shifting'movement in the support. The novel features of the inventionwill be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views; and in which:

Fig. '1 is a plan'view of the cap side of the socket shown attached to a support.

Fig, 2 is a section on the-line 22 of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a cap shown detached and in the position assumed prior to" attachment to the socket member of the socket part of the fastener;

In socket members of the type and kind under consideration, it has been desirable to produce a socket member relatively thin in its total thickness in order to present a minimum of bulk to facilitate passage through laundering machines of various kinds and classes, and furthermore to securely and firmly retain the socket member against displacement and shifting movement on the support to which it is attached.

The socketmember herein disclosed includes structural features which accomplish the desired results in fasteners of this kind, and at the same time, produces a socket member of strong and durable construction which will withstand a reasonable amount of crushing strain without distortion to said member or interference with the proper functioning thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, the socket part of snap fasteners of the kind under consideration comprises a socket member 5- and a cap member 6, which might also be termed the attaching member for securing the member 5- to anysuit able supporting sheet 1.

The member 5 comprises a ringlike body having an outwardly anddownwardly curved wall portion 8 terminating atits lower end in an inwardly curved annular ringlike wall 9, preferably of curved or hook shaped cross sectional form, as clearly seen in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The upperor inner end of the wall 8 terminates in a plurality of circumferentially spaced spring members l0 arranged within circumferential boundaries of the wall 8, and having at their lower ends inturned projections |ladapted to engage a stud part of a fastener, not shown, in retaining such stud part against displacement from the socket part, as in other devices of this kind.

Th wall 8' concludes in a short substantially straight portion I? which parallels the perpendicular wall of the sprin members Ill, and this construction gives rigidity and reinforcement to the" socket part in resisting crushing strains. outwardly of the part l2 of thewall', and inward- 1y of the ring 9, is an annular passage l3 opening into the annular chamber [4 formed between the lower portion of the wall 8 and the ring 9. It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing that the wall 8' and ring 9 are arranged in close proximity to each other, spaced apart sufficiently to receive the coupling prongs l5 of the member'fi.

The member G comprises a central disc or domed portion I6 the peripher of which is 01T- set, as seen at H, where the domed portion joinsformed, which would be occupied by the wide' spacing, as at l9, between the flanges l8, as will clearly appear from a, consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing. However, the prongs l5 are of greater radial length than the corresponding length of the gripper flanges I8 in order to extend through the support 1 and pass into the opening l3, and finally into the chamber 14 of the socket member 5,, the result of which operation is illustrated clearly at the right of Fig. 2 of the drawing.

Inv producing. the cap part. 6 as an article of manufacture, it will be. made in accordance. with the showing in. Fig. 3, with prongs l5 arranged in a straight perpendicular line, and these prongs are so positioned with respect to the curved wall 8 of the. member 5 as to pass downwardly over said wall and be guided into the chamber M in the manner stated and shown in th drawing.

Considering Fig. l of the drawing, it will be seen that the corners 2a of the gripper flanges [8 will be slightly rounded in order not to rupture the support 7 in firmly imbedding these flanges in the support in the operation of securing the members 5 and 6 thereto. In this operation the support will be slightly raised between adjacent .ends of the gripper flanges or within the space l9, as indicated at 2| 'at the right of Fig. 2 of the of the member 5, thus in the applied pressure of securing the members of the socket part to the support I, the downward imbedded-pressure of the gripper flanges l8 will be backed-up by the ring 9, which is flatly curved, to form in this respect a suitable backin plate which will not pierce or injure the support in any wayj This flatness furthermore will minimize the total overall thickness of the complete socket part. It will also appear that the ofl'setting of the domed portion and gripper flanges as at ll is such that the interior diameter of said offset portion I! is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the wall l2. This construction provides for ample space between the domed portion l6 and the adjacent connecting annulus of the wall I2 and spring members Ill so as to preclude any severe binding of the supporting material therebetween, and assure that the entire impact of the grippin force on the interposed supporting material will be effected between the gripper flanges 18 and the rin 9. project axially out of and are integral with the offset portion I! and with their perpendicular portions bent outwardly into the chamber M with the bent portions resting upon the wall 8, the prongs l5 serve as sort of pedestals to support the domed portion [6 a predetermined distance above the socket part 5 to protect the latter against any crushing strains.

One of the distinctive advantages of utilizing the circumferentially spaced gripper flanges on the cap member is to compensate for any unevenness that may prevail in the support to which the socket part is attached. In other words, each gripper flange will function as a gripping and "securing element independently, and by reason of this fact, no distortion will be contributed to the socket part as a whole, and at the same time, a square mounting on the support is provided.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a snap fastener comprising socket and cap parts, a cap part comprising a central disc portion, a plurality of prongs extending integrally from the periphery of said disc portion at circumferentially spaced intervals, said prongs being arranged perpendicularly to the disc portion and substantially parallel to each other, plurality of gripper flanges extending integrally from the periphery of the disc portion and arranged between said spaced prongs, and said gripper flanges extending outwardly and radially with respect to said disc and angularly with respect to said prongs. I I

2. In a snap fastener comprising socket and cap parts, a cap part comprising a central disc Further, the fact that the prongs l5 4 portion, a. plurality of prongs extending integrally from the periphery of said disc portion at circumferentially spaced intervals, said prongs being arranged perpendicularly to the disc portion and substantially parallel to each other, a plurality of gripper flanges extending integrally from the periphery of the disc portion and arranged between said spaced prongs, said gripper flanges extending outwardly and radially with respect to said disc and angularly with respect to said prongs, and said gripper flanges being offset with respect to the periphery of said disc.

3. In a snap fastener comprising socket and cap parts, a cap part comprising a central disc portion, a plurality of prongs extending integrally from the periphery of said disc portion at circumferentially spaced intervals, said prongs being arranged perpendicularly to the disc portion and substantially parallel to each other, a plurality of gripper flanges extending integrally from the periphery of the disc portion and arranged between said spaced prongs, said gripper flanges extending outwardly and radially with respect to said disc and angularly with respect to said prongs, said gripper flanges being oflse't with respect to the periphery of said disc, and said disc being domed outwardly in a direction opposite to the extension of the prongs with respect thereto.

4. In a snap fastener comprising socket and cap parts, a cap part'comprising a central disc portion, a plurality of prongs extending integrally from the periphery of said disc portion at circumferentially spaced intervals, said prongs being arranged perpendicularly to the disc portion and substantially parallel to each other, a plurality of gripper flanges extending integrally from the periphery of the disc portion and arranged between said spaced prongs, said gripper flanges extending outwardly and radially with respect to said disc and angularly with respect to said prongs, said gripper flanges being offset with respect to the periphery of said disc, said disc being domed outwardly in a direction opposite to the extension 'of the prongs with respect thereto, said gripper flanges having a radial curvature substantially conforming with and offset with respect to the curvature in the dome of said disc, and peripheral edges of said gripper flanges being concentric with the periphery of said disc.

5. In a snap fastener comprising socket and cap parts, a cap part comprising'a central disc portion, a plurality of prongs extending integrally from the periphery of said disc portion at circumferentially spaced intervals, said prongs being arranged perpendicularly to-the disc portion and substantially parallel to each other, a plurality of gripper flanges extending integrally from the periphery of the disc portion and arranged between said spaced prongs, said gripper flanges extending outwardly and radially with respect to said disc and angularly with respect to said prongs, said gripper flanges being offset with respect to the periphery of said disc, said disc being domed outwardly in a-direction opposite to the extension of the prongs with respect thereto, said gripper flange having a radial curvature substantially conforming with. and offset with respect to the curvature in the dome of:

6..A cap for a snap fastener, said cap c0m-,

- prising an imperforated center portion terminating in an offset marginal edge, a plurality of circumferential gripper flangesextending integrallyfi'om-the offset marginal edgeof' said center porition and radially with respect to said. portion;

said gripper flanges being widely spaced and ter minatingin outer curved edges, and means extending integrally from the marginal edge of saidcenter portion intermediate said gripper flanges-for securing the cap to a: support.

1 A" cap for a snap fastener; said cap" comprising" an imperforated' center portion terminating in an" offset marginal edge, a .pluralityof cir-- cumf'erential gripper flanges extending integrally fromt'heoffset marginal edgeof said centerportion and radially with respect to said portion,

said gripper flanges being widely spaced and ter-- minat-ing in outer curved edges; means extend ing" integrally from the marginal edge of said center" portion intermediate said gripper flangesfor securing the-cap to a' support, said-last named means comprising substantially V'-shaped prongsand means integral with said edge of the center portion forming intermediate said members circumferentially spaced andtotally independently functioning grippers cooperating with said membersin securing the cap to a support.

9. A cap forsecuring snap fastener parts toasupport, said cap comprising a center portion terminating in a marginal edge, a plurality of cap securing members" extending integrally from said edge and angularly to said center portion, means integral with said edge of the center portion forming intermediate said members circumferentially spaced and totally" independently functioning grippers cooperating with said members in securing the cap to a support, said grippers being offset with respect to the center portion,v and. said grippers terminating in curved ends.

-10. A cap for securing snap fastener parts to a support, said cap comprising a center portion terminating in a marginal edge, a plurality of cap securing members extending integrally from said edge and angularly to said center portion, means integral With said edge of the center portion forming intermediate said members circumferentially spaced and totally independently functioning grippers cooperating with said members in securing the cap to a support, said grippers being offset with respect to the center portion, said grippers terminating in curved ends, and the curved ends of said grippers being of greater circumferential length than the ends thereof joining the edge of the center portion.

11. A snap fastener socket member comprising a socket part and a cap part, the socket part comprising a ring body having an inturned marginal portion of curved hook shaped cross sectional contour, the ring body being partially defined by a curved annular wall, said cap part comprising a central domed portion terminating in an offset marginal edge, a plurality of circumferential gripper flanges extending integrally from said marginal edge and radially with respect to said center portion, said gripper flanges being arranged over and cooperating with the margina1 portion of the socket part insupporting said part on a support disposed therebetween, the marginal edge of the cap part inwith": respect! to said socketpart, and the inside diameter of said domed portion being greater than: the" outside diameter of the annular wall of the socketpart arranged within: the: prongs adj'acent said domed portion.

12; A" snapfastener socket member comprising a socket part and a: cap part, the socket part, comprising a ring-like body" havin an inturned:

marginal portion of curved hook shaped cross sectional form presenting a curved ringlike upper surface on said socket part; a: plurality of'yi'eldable members spaced circumferentially of-andex; tending downwardly from the other end of said body, the free lower' endsof said members having inturned stud engaging portions arranged with-= in the circumferential boundaries of" said body,

said cap part comprising-a central domed portion, a'plurality of outwardly and radially extending circumferentially spaced flange at the p'e riphery of the domed portion and offset with respect thereto, said flanges being" widely spaced at adjacentedges thereof, said domed portion including prongs arranged at the periphery thereof intermediate said flanges and engaging the inturned flanges of the socket part in securing said parts-to a support arranged between said parts, and said flanges; overlying'the' upper surface of said marginal portion and curved to substantially conform therewith in firmly gripping the support therebetween.

13. A snap fastener socket member comprising,

a socket part and a cap part, the socket part comprising a ringlike body having an inturned marginal portion of curved hook shaped cross sectional form presenting a curved ringlike upper surface on said socket part, a plurality of yieldable members spaced circumferentially off and extending downwardly from the other end of said body, the free lower ends of said members having inturned stud engaging portions arranged within the circumferential boundaries of said body, said cap part comprising a central domed portion, a plurality of outwardly and radially extending circumferentially spaced flanges at the periphery of the domed portion and offset with respect thereto, said flanges being widely spaced at adjacent edges thereof, said domed portion in cluding prongs arranged at the periphery thereof intermediate said flanges and engaging the inturned flanges of the socket part in securing said parts to a support arranged between said parts, said flanges overlying the upper surface of said marginal portion and curved to substantially conform therewith in firmly gripping the support therebetween, and the outside diameter defined by the flanges of the cap part being substantially the same as the outside diameter defined by the marginal portion of the socket part.

14. A snap fastener socket member comprising a socket part and a cap part, the socket part comprising a ringlike body having an inturned marginal portion of curved hook shaped cross sectional form presenting a curved ringlike upper surface on said socket part, a plurality of yieldable members spaced circumferentially of and extending downwardly from the other end of said body, the free lower ends of said members having inturned stud engaging portions arranged within the circumferential boundaries of said body, said cap part comprising a central domed portion, a plurality of outwardly and radially extending circumferentially spaced flanges at theperiphery of the domed portion and offset with respect thereto, said flanges being widely spaced at adjacent edges thereof, said domed portion including prongs arranged at the periphery thereof intermediate said flanges and engaging the inturned flanges of the socket part in securing said parts to a support arranged between said parts, said flanges overlying the upper surface of said marginal portion and curved to substantially conform therewith in firmly gripping the support therebetween, said flanges forming independent grippers engaging the support, and the support extending outwardly in the spaces between said flanges in keying the cap and socket against shifting movement on the support.

, .15. In a snap fastener comprising socket and cap parts, the socket part comprising a ringlike bodyhaving a reversely curved annular marginal portion, said marginal portion presenting a curved ringlike upper surface on said socket part, a cap part comprising a central disc-like portion, a plurality of prongs spaced circumferentially of the peripheral edge of said disc portion, a plurality of circumferentially elongated and spaced gripper flanges at the periphery of said disc portion and intermediate said prongs, said prongs engaging the marginal portion of the socket part in securing said parts together and to a support arranged therebetween, and said gripper flanges being curved and arranged over the curved surface of the marginal portion in firmly gripping a support therebetween.

16. The combination with a snap fastener member adapted to be secured to one surface of a support and having an annular marginal portion, of another member for securing the first named member to said support, said second member being arranged'on the other surface of the support and having circumferentially spaced prongs extending through the support and engaging the marginal portion of the first named member in securing the members to said support, said second named member having circumferentially spaced independent grippers, and said grippers and marginal portion having alined curved surfaces between which the support is firmly gripped in securing said members to the support.

17. The combination with a snap fastener member adapted to be secured to one surface of a support and having an annular marginal portion, of another member for securing the first named member to said support, said second member being arranged on the other surface of the support and having circumferentially spaced prongs extending through the support and engaging the marginal portion of the first named member in securing the members to said support, said second named member having circumferentially spaced independent grippers, said grippers and marginal portion having alined curved surfaces between which the support is firmly gripped in securing said members to the support, and said second named member having an offset central domed portion offset outwardly with respect to the second named surface of the support.

18. The combination with a snap fastener member adapted to be secured to one surface of a support and having an annular marginal portion, of another member for securing the first named member to said support, said second member being arranged on the other surface of the support and having circumferentially spaced prongs extending through the support and engaging the marginal portion of the first named member in securing the members to said support, said second named member having circumferentially spaced independent grippers, said grippers and marginal portion having alined curved surfaces between which the support is firmly gripped in securing said members to the support, said second named member having an offset central domed portion offset outwardly with respect to the second named surface of the support, and end portions of said grippers circumferentially enveloping part of said first named member when said members are attached to a support.

OTTO J. HUELSTER. 

